tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post1311519990522715782..comments2023-08-29T11:00:10.512-04:00Comments on Mr. B-G's Blog: A cooler classroomMr. B-Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00628569059610320379noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post-20702175907812910412007-08-15T10:31:00.000-04:002007-08-15T10:31:00.000-04:00" Imagine if you had to sit through back-to-back-t..." Imagine if you had to sit through back-to-back-to-back-to-back 85 minute meetings, five times per week."<BR/><BR/>I do! Only I don't get to sit at all! :) Just had to throw that in there, for the sake of perspective.<BR/><BR/>While I love the idea of arranging a classroom with students' bodies in mind (I wish we could get better desks for them in my school), I would be concerned to have some of these things in my classroom. Maybe I'm just a worrier, but the hot water for tea sounds like a lawsuit over an accidental spill-burn waiting to happen.<BR/><BR/>I also think that in some ways, being overly concerned with elaborate measures toward comfort can detract from making certain the classroom is a place designed to facilitate getting our tasks done - one that is a little more in keeping with what students will see when they enter the workforce. I'm sure that's not the case for the thoughtful teacher, but I've seen some classrooms that were designed to be so "chummy" they were useless as a learning center - decorated to the point of distraction, poorly arranged for the sake of students being able to see the board, etc. Tha's not to say I advocate for straight rows and no nonsense, but in my opinion the first priority should be a streamlined room where procedure and learning can occur effortlessly - that's a type of comfort all its own.<BR/><BR/>Like Rita, I barely have room for all my desks, much less a couch, but I do arrange them in a U shape (at the cost of some space) to create a more collaborative atmosphere. I also keep a well-stocked student office area, which students are encouraged to use for whatever reason. I often have students come in before school to use this area for other classes even. It's all a balancing act. Each year I think I get it a little more right.Redkuduhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13756085609311571044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post-730081202133873382007-08-13T00:35:00.000-04:002007-08-13T00:35:00.000-04:00This post was fantastic. There are many things sim...This post was fantastic. There are many things similar to those you've listed that I'd like to put in place in my (future) classroom. The kids in my current school are able to have water bottles at their desks (and there is a bubbler in each room), which I think is so necessary.<BR/><BR/>And I love the of creating a reading nook where kids can spread out and really enjoy books.<BR/><BR/>GREAT ideas...GREAT post!East Coast Teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14402184287700165184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post-63926431344097053002007-08-10T19:47:00.000-04:002007-08-10T19:47:00.000-04:00I guess I never really feared being recorded by a ...I guess I never really feared being recorded by a phone for a couple reasons. One, we're too busy to play with them. Two, I would notice if my students were off-task since I'm a constant mover in the room.<BR/><BR/>I just ask my students to turn them off until class ends. If a student has a need to keep it on, we discuss it before class and leave it on vibrate.<BR/><BR/>BTW, the last time I saw myself on camera I noticed tow things: my hair was gone and I was a bit rounder than I remembered. :)Dr Pezzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09160506091556539766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post-1761762048852183282007-08-10T12:48:00.000-04:002007-08-10T12:48:00.000-04:00One of my colleagues, who has a larger room than I...One of my colleagues, who has a larger room than I do, brought in a recliner for himself. He teaches the ACT classes after school, and I think he takes a quick snooze in his chair between sessions.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10922244604362491254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post-84899399277300739882007-08-10T01:43:00.000-04:002007-08-10T01:43:00.000-04:00drpezz - We had an incident at my school where a t...drpezz - We had an incident at my school where a teacher was videotaped with a cellphone and then displayed on YouTube. It's actually happened to a number of teachers across the country, and is a trend that will grow unless these devices are either shut off during class or banned. Students also use the phones to cheat on tests via text messages.<BR/><BR/>As for my personal rules, this year I'm going to keep it simple with "Respect yourself. Respect your classmates. Respect your teacher."<BR/><BR/>Of course I'll have a list of procedures, and will obviously enforce the student handbook, but I'm thinking the "three respects" are clear and to-the-point.<BR/><BR/>jk - Thanks for the well-wishes. My school teaches in 55 minute periods, not 85 minute blocks. I create a daily agenda for all my classes that's designed to fill the entire period. Of course, during the period, there are moments of transition time, but they are brief.<BR/><BR/>In an 85 minute block, as I believe Hoefler taught, one or two stretch breaks can do wonders. Imagine if you had to sit through back-to-back-to-back-to-back 85 minute meetings, five times per week. You'd need breaks too!<BR/><BR/>californiateacher - I never quite understood fellow teachers who, during my first couple years of teaching, told me to never smile until December.<BR/><BR/>One of my strengths, I think, is being able to make my students feel comfortable by poking fun at myself and telling bad jokes. I like trying to use humor in the classroom. That's just me.<BR/><BR/>I also have a lot to teach, and a lot I want students to be able to do. I'm of the mindset that it's possible to have both a learning environment that places students at ease, and a curriculum and expectations that are anything but easy.<BR/><BR/>It seems I am constantly thinking of ways to challenge and engage my students. It is at times very difficult, but that's really what they deserve.<BR/><BR/>rita - I hope you get air conditioning in your new digs before you retire!<BR/><BR/>englishteacherme - Thanks for the compliment. I definitely think it's important to make sure you know what the administration expects, and not to deviate too far. Today I actually picked up a few $7 floor mats that fold up into chairs. It will be interesting to see how the students react. I think the mats are as far as I'll go this year. I don't really have room for a couch, but it would be great to have one for myself after school.<BR/><BR/>I like to stay at school and work until 4 or 5. A 20-minute nap before I started reading, planning, researching, correcting, etc would be divine. I never finish as much as I'd like, but when I come home, I'm home. Only around grading periods do I really do work at home. This approach helps me (sort of) maintain my sanity and (feebly) attempt to separate my professional and personal lives.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, everyone, for your comments.Mr. B-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00628569059610320379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post-75472905885804265182007-08-10T00:34:00.000-04:002007-08-10T00:34:00.000-04:00It sounds like although the scooby snacks, hot tea...It sounds like although the scooby snacks, hot tea, and stetch breaks every 15 minutes keep the students comfy, doesn't that take a lot of time away from teaching & learning? It sounds like your views are more to the point -- help the students learn to be respectful and responsible -- good luck on the new year!Mr. Nautonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12306447102220923922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post-19464672393030186352007-08-10T00:22:00.000-04:002007-08-10T00:22:00.000-04:00You know, I've thought about my classroom environm...You know, I've thought about my classroom environment and what rules I will strictly enforce and which I won't (I should probably just create a new post on my page for this), and I discovered that I want to teach personal responsibility above all else. I don't mind cell phones and iPods and hats and so on. I just try to teach the students how to use each responsibly, when they are appropriate and when they are not. Students will make mistakes, and those are my teaching moments. Respect is key.<BR/><BR/>I definitely butt heads with others in the school over these types of issues, but I feel we need to teach students how to be responsible and that means we must admit they are learning and will err. But, they will improve too.Dr Pezzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09160506091556539766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post-17541499406083531622007-08-09T23:18:00.000-04:002007-08-09T23:18:00.000-04:00Here in California if kids eat in classrooms, we a...Here in California if kids eat in classrooms, we are sure to be invaded by hordes of ants. Hence, I find the no-eating-in-classrooms rule to have some merit. But I like your approach to "easing up" so that students feel at ease in the learning environment.CaliforniaTeacherGuyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03765655907043136511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post-11000095151428928752007-08-09T22:18:00.000-04:002007-08-09T22:18:00.000-04:00I like the idea of making my students feel comfort...I like the idea of making my students feel comfortable in my classroom (I was told by a previous supervising teacher [regarding a certain homeless student I felt for] that the hour some students spend in her class is really her only opportunity to insure that her students have a positive day). However, I also like the idea of being in the good graces of my administration. While I think water coolers and IPods may be crossing the line (especially for the younger crowd I'm aiming for), I think adding homey touches to the classroom can have nothing but positive effects on student learning. There's nothing worse than being stuck in a cold, white, dungeon of a room. Great post!EnglishTeacherMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12009243006121165703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4718514650634739931.post-78137793505410432372007-08-09T18:46:00.000-04:002007-08-09T18:46:00.000-04:00I'd love to have a couch and water cooler in my cl...I'd love to have a couch and water cooler in my classroom. I'm not allowed to plug in much other than my fan and pencil sharpener, however, because it will blow a circuit. And I don't have enough space for 28 desks, never mind a couch. My kids do move the desks and spread out when they're doing group work, and trustworthy kids are allowed to go down to the courtyard because I can visually check in on them from my window. <BR/><BR/>But, my room has a nasty odor because a pipe has been leaking rusty water down into the carpet for years. The carpet has to stay down because it is part of asbestos abatement. It's disgusting. And I don't have A/C (my room gets up over 100 degrees in the spring and fall every year -- heaven only knows what it would be like in there this week with 102 temps -- our first contract days are next week). I am partial to my 100-year old original slate chalkboards, though.<BR/><BR/>BTW, I work in an affluent suburb, not the inner city.<BR/><BR/>But we had architects in last year planning a gut rehab of the building. We actually got to tell them about our dream classroom. That was fun. I'm not sure the work will be done before I retire (I'm just hoping for a/c), but the idea of a room designed to my specs with group work space, a small quiet room for my ADD and autistic kids to test in, computers (we have two labs for 1400 high school kids), fresh air... well.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10922244604362491254noreply@blogger.com